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Immunity from Fire

Isaiah 43:2 …when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Insight on the Word

The loss of families in house fires and those injured and scared through the flames of fire is indeed pitiful and tragic. Is it any wonder that Scripture speaks of fire as the place of torment for the rebellious? “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). But literal fire is not the only kind of fire. The Bible tells us “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (James 3:6). Indeed fire is to be respected and feared!

But for we who follow Christ there is no need to fear the fire! Fire slew those men who placed the three Hebrew children into the fiery furnace; yet it did not harm Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. (Daniel 3:22-27) Elijah’s ascension into heaven was accompanied by “a chariot of fire.” (2 Kings 2:11) Even the holy places of God have the presence of fire. For we read of Satan, before his fall: “thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire” (Ezekiel 28:14). Even at the Judgment Seat of Christ it is fire that will burn away our unprofitable works; for we “shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15).

Sadly while fire depicts the second death, “the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8); fire has no power over believers: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power” (Revelation 20:6). Thank God for His promise: “when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”